Drawworks



. J. B. PICARD DRAWWORKS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 5, 1949 w yo mm AN.Q xbm n m5 7 u n M J fills.

J. B. PICARD 2,650,064

DRAwwoRxs 2 Sheets-She 2 Aug, 25, 1953 Filed June 5, 1949 VENTOR.

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Patented Aug. 25, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT ClFFlCl-Iy DRAWWORKS John B.Picard, Los- Angeles, Calif., assignor to The N ational Supply Company,Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application Junev 3,1949, Serial No. 97,055

9 Claims.

This invention relates to well drilling apparatus andv isl particularlydirected to improvements in the construction of rotary drawworks.

Thel principal object of this invention is to provide a novel form ofsingle package drawworks adapted for highway transportation as a Anotherobject is to provide a rotary drawworks having novel means forselectively connecting an auxiliary brake to impede rotation of thespooling drum.

Another object is to provide a drawworks having a drumshaft driven ateither of two speeds from rotary elements on a lineshaft, one of thedrives to the drumshaft providing a means for connecting an auxiliarybrake to'impede rotationv of the spooling drum.

Another object is'to provide a novel form of disengageable over-runningclutch assembly for driving the auxiliary brake.

Other and more detailed objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view showing a preferred embodiment of myinvention, the various guards being in place. f

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof. 1

Figure 3 is a sectional plan view in diagram matic form.

Figure 4 is a` sectional view taken substantially on the lines 4-4 asshown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the lines 5--5 asshown in Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the lines6--6' as shown in Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings, the drawworks unit generally designated IIIis driven from a source of power (not shown) through drive chain II. Thedrawworks unit It)A is provided with a spooling drum l2 for winding up acable I3 and is also providedl with a `power take-off sprocket I4adapted'to drive a rotary machine I5 through a drive chain I6. Thedrawworks unit l0 includes a frame assembly I1 mounted on parallel skidsI8. Four parallelshafts are rotatably supported on the frame I1. Thusthe drumshaft I9 is rotatably supported on axially spaced bearings l andthe lineshaft 2| is rotatably supported on axially spaced bearings 22.

The power shaft 23 and jackshaft 24 comprise t the driving and drivenshafts in a change-speed transmission unit generally designated 25. The

bearings 26 and the jackshaft is rotatably supported on axially spacedbearings 21. Power transmitted through the drive chain II from a sourceof power (not shown)` turns the drive sprocket 28 relative to the powershaft 23. A fluid operated friction clutch assembly 29 serves tolreleasably connect the drive sprocket 28 in driving relationship withthe power shaft 23. Three forward speeds are provided by the changespeedtransmission 25 whereby the power shaft 23 may rotate the jackshaft 24.These forward speeds are provided by driving sprockets 30, 3| and 32which are aligned and connected by chain to jackshaft sprockets 33, 34and 35 respectively. The sprockets 30 and 3l are xed on the power shaft23 while the sprocket 32 is rotatably mounted thereon and is providedwith clutch jaws 36. The sprockets 33` and 34 are each rotativelymounted upon the jackshaft 24, and an axially slidable clutch 31' ispositionedbetween them and is adapted to connect either in directdriving relationship with the jackshaft 24. The driven sprocket 35' isfixed on the jackshaft.

A reverse drive is also provided for driving the jackshaft 24 in areverse direction from the power shaft 23. This reverse drive includesthe gear- 3.8 splined to the power shaft 23 and axially slidable intomesh with the gear 39 which is xed on the jackshaft 24. Clutch jaws 40are provided on the same member 4I as the gear 38, and accordingly axialsliding movement of the member 4I- towardthe left as viewed in Figure 3engages the clutch jaws 36 and 40 to effect a drive to the jackshaft 24through sprockets 32 and 35. When the member 4I`- is shifted to theright as shown in Figure 3, the gears 38 and 39 are brought into mesh sothat the jackshaft 24 is driven in a reverse direction from the powershaft 23.

A driving sprocket 42-is rotatably mounted on the jackshaft 24 andA isadapted to be clutched into driving relationship therewith by means ofthe axially shiftable clutch 43'. AThe sprocket 42 is adapted to rotatethe catshaft 44 through chain 45.

The driving sprocket 4I;v which is xed on the jackshaft 24 constitutesthe power take-off sprocket forV the change-speed transmission 25. Thisrsprocket 46'l is adapted to drive a dual sprocket member 41'4 which isrotatably mounted on one of the overhanging ends ofthe lineshaft 2|.This dual sprocket member 41 includes a driven sprocket 48 which isconnected by chain 49 to the drivingsprocket 46. The dual'sprocketmember 41 also includes a driving sprocket 50. The sprockets 48 and 50rotate as a unit. A fluid actuated friction clutch assembly 5I providesa means for releasably connecting the dual sprocket member 41 in directdriving relationship with the lineshaft 2I.

A similar dual sprocket member 52 is rotatably mounted on theoverhanging end of the drumshaft I9. This member 52 includes a drivensprocket 53 connected with the sprocket 50 by means of chain 54. Thedual sprocket member 52 also includes driving sprocket 55 which isconnected by chain 56 to the sprocket 51 on the countershaft 58. Thedual sprocket member 52 is adapted to be releasably connected in drivingrelationship with the drumshaft I9 by means of the fluid actuatedfriction clutch 59.

-A fluid actuation friction clutch 60 is adapted to establish a drivingconnection between the sprocket 51 and the countershaft 58. The powertake-off sprocket I4 is fixed on the countershaft 58 and is positionedoutside the supporting bearings 6 I.

The uid actuated friction clutches 29, 5I, 59 and 60 may be ofsubstantially the same design and construction. The sectional View ofthe clutch 59 as shown in Figure 4 generally illustrates theconstruction of each of the other fluid actuated friction clutches. Asshown in Figure 4 an annular inatable tube 62 is confined within ahousing 63 and is adapted when in operative position to move shoes 64radially inwardly to engage the friction lining 65 with the drum 66.When the tube 62 is deflated the shoes 64 and lining 65 move radiallyoutwardly and the frictional driving connection between the housing 63and drum 66 is interrupted. The ring 62 may be inated by air pressuresupplied through rotary stuffing box 81, collar 68 and piping 69.

As shown in Figure 4 the dual sprocket member 52 is rotatably mounted onbearings 10 and 1I carried on a hub 12 which is fixed to the drumshaftI9 by means of one or more axially extending keys 13. The overhangingportion of the shaft I9 includes a taper section 14 and the bore of thehub 12 fits this taper. A portion of the hub 12 is encircled by thespider 16 which is clamped in position by means of the collar 68. Thecollar 68 is secured to the shaft end by means of a plurality of bolts11. The housing 63 is connected to the spider 16 by any convenient meanssuch as, for example, bolts 18. The spider 16 is nonrotatably connectedto the hub 12 by means of internal splines 19 on the spider which engageexternal splines 80 on the hub. The dual sprocket member 52 is connectedto the drum 66 by bolts 8I.

From this description it will be understood that the housing 63 rotateswith the drumshaft I9, and the drum 66 rotates with the dual sprocketmember 52. The entire assembly including the sprocket member 52, clutch59 and hub 12 may be removed from the end of the shaft as a unit uponrelease of the bolts 11 holding the retaining collar 68 to the end ofthe shaft I9.

The mounting of the dual sprocket member 41 is substantially the same asthat shown in Figure 4 with reference to the dual sprocket member 52.

Low speed drive means are provided for driving the spooling drum fromthe lineshaft 2 I, and as shown in the drawings this includes a sprocket1 fixed on the lineshaft 2I connected by chain 8 to drive sprocket 9which is xed on the drumshaft I9. High speed drive means for thespooling drum I2 is provided through dual sprocket members 41 and 52 byway of chain 54and by clutch 59.

An auxiliary brake 84 is mounted in axial alignment with the lineshaft 2I. This brake may be of hydraulic, electric, or may take the form of anyother suitable energy absorbing device. The auxiliary brake 84 may beconnected in driving relationship with the lineshaft 2l by means of thereleasable over-running clutch assembly generally designated 85. Thisassembly includes a hub 86 xed to the tapered end 81 ofthe lineshaft 2I.The hub is provided with external splines 88. The brake shaft 89 isdisposed in axial alignment with the lineshaft 2I and is provided with ahub 90 xed thereto. A ring 9I is rotatably mounted on the hub 90 bymeans of axially spaced bearings 92. The hub and ring cooperate to forma f plurality of arcuate recesses 93 in which rollers 94 are disposed.As viewed in Figure 6, when the ring 9I rotates in a clockwise directionthe rollers connect the ring 9| in driving relationship with the hub 90,but when the ring 9| turns in a counterclockwise direction the rollersmove tothe large end of the recesses and the ring 9| turns withoutdriving the hub 90. The ring is provided with a series of externalsplines 95 positioned adjacent the splines 88. A shiftable collar 96 isprovided with internal splines 91. The collar 96 may be axially shiftedto the right as viewed in Figure 3 in order to connect the hub 86 andring .9| in direct driving relationship.r When the collar 96 is in theoperative position shown in Figure 3 the auxiliary brake 84 isdisconnected from the lineshaft 2 I.

In operation the hoisting operations are carried on at any one of thethree speeds available through the change-speed transmission 25 andthrough either the high speed or low speed drive provided between thelineshaft 2I and spooling drum I2. When a low speed drive is requiredthe -uid operated friction clutch 5I is engaged and the fluid operatedfriction clutch 59 is disengaged. The drive then takes place throughsprockets 46, 48, clutch 5I, shaft 2I and sprockets 1 and 9. When a highspeed drive is required the fluid operated friction clutch 5I isdisengaged and the clutch 59 is engaged. The drive then passes throughsprockets 46, 48, 50, clutch 59 and drumshaft I9. It will be observedthat when the drum I2 is driven by the high speed drive throughsprockets 50 and 53, the lineshaft is rotated through sprockets 9 and 1,but this is not objectionable because the lineshaft merely idles and isnot connected to drive anything.

When it is desired to drive the rotary machine I5 the fluid operatedfriction clutch 68 is engaged so that the power take-off sprocket I4 isdriven through sprockets 46, 48, 50, 53, 55, 51, clutch 60 andcountershaft 58. While the rotary machine is in operation turning thedrill string (not shown), the drum I2 is allowed to turn slowly in areverse direction to unspool cable for lowering the `drill string andbit into the drilled hole. Control of the unspooling movement of thedrum is accomplished through conventional brake bands 98 trained overthe brake rims. A brake actuating lever 99 is provided for actuating thebrake bands. Y Y

In conventional drilling practice the drill string is withdrawn fromtime to time for the purpose of changing the bit. It is reinserted intothe well hole section by section and connected by threaded couplings.When the drill string is long the weight becomes greater than can beconveniently handled by the brake bands on the rims 98, and accordinglyit is thev usual practice to employ an auxiliary brake forv impeelingrotation or' the drum when lowering the drill string in-to the hole.Such auxiliary brakes are commonly located'. iny coaxial'v alignmentwith the drumshaft, but such a. location is not possible on a heavyduty, high capacity, single package drawworks because thev sizeof thebrake is such that itY cannot be-included within the width limitationsimposed for highway transportation..

In accordance with my invention I position the' auxiliary brake 84 inalignment with the lineshaft- 2| and ydri-ve it` through the sametransmission connections as are employed for the low speed hoistingdri-ve forI the spooling drum. Since the sprocket 9v is larger than thesprocket 'l in the low speed drive, the lineshait 2| rotates at agreater speed than the drumshaft |92. rIhis high speed is particularlyadvantageous when driving an auxiliary brake since a smal-ler brake canbeV used to provide the same braking effect for the spooling drum.

During drilling opera-tions while the rotary machine is turning andduringv hoisting operations, they auxiliary brake 84'- is normallydisconnected from the lineshaft 2i. This is accomplished by moving theaxially shilitable collar 96- tol its inoperative position as shown inFigure 3. When the drill stringis being lowered into the hole, howeventhe collarA 96 isy shiftedA to connect the Iineshaft 2| to theYauxiliary brake through the over-running clutch assembly 825. Forwardrotation of: the drum when hoisting the empty blocks (not shown) is notvimpeded because-the overrunning feature o-f the clutch disconnects thebrake from the lineshaft 27|. When the' drum turns in a ldirection tolower the blocks anddrill string, however, the clutch connects theline-- shaft 2I to the auxiliary bra-ke 84 so that rotation of thespooling druml-2- is impeded.

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that Ido notwish to belimited to the details herein set forth, but my invention isof the full scopeY of the appended claims.

'I claimt 1. In a rotary drawworks; the combination oi a drumshaft, aspooling drum on said drumshaft, a lineshaft, low speed drive meanswhereby the lineshaft may drive the spoolingydrum,y including a, largedriven. sprocket fixed relative to the spooling drum and a smalldrivingsprocket fixed relative to the lineshaft and connected by a chain,v anauxiliary brake positioned-.coaxially of the lineshaft, and over-runningclutch means. for connecting the brake totheA lineshaft whereby thebrake may bel driven at a greater speed than the drum when the latter isturning in an unspooling` direction.

2. In a rotary drawworks, the combination of a 'd-rumshaft, a spoolingdrum on said drumshatt, a lineshaft, low speed drive means whereby thelineshaft may drive the spooling drum, including a large driven sprocketxed relative to the spooling drum and a small driving sprocket fixedrelative to the lineshaft and connected by a chain, an auxiliary brakepositioned coaxially of the lineshaft, over-running clutch means forconnecting the brake to the lineshaft whereby the brake may be driven ata greater speed than the drum when the latter is turning in anunspooling direction, and high speed drive means for driving thespooling drum including a driving member rotatably mounted on thelineshaft.

3. In a rotary drawworks, the combination of a drumshaft, a spoolingdrum on said drumshaft, a lineshaft, low speed drive means whereby theing a driven elementi fixed relative to the spooling drum and a drivingelement iixed relative to the. lineshaft, a rst member rotatably mountedcoaxially of the lineshaft, a clutch for releasably connecting saidmember in driving relationshipA with thelineshaft, high speed drivemeans whereby said first member may drive the spooling drum, said meansincluding a second member y rotatably mounted on the drumshait and asecond clutch for releasably connecting the second member in drivingrelationship with said drumsh-aft, an auxiliary brake positionedcoaxially of the lineshaft, and a clutch for connecting the brake tothelineshaft, whereby the brake may act through the low speed drive meansto resist unspooling movement of the drum: upon the iirst and secondclutchesv being disengaged.

4. In a rotary drawworks, the combination of a drumshaft, a spoolingdrum on said' drumshait, a lineshaft, low speed drivemeans whereby thelineshaft may drive they spool-ing drum, including a large drivenysprocket xed relative to the spooling drumand a small driving sprocketxed relative to the lineshaft and connected by a chain, a first memberrotatably mounted coaxially of the lineshait, a first clu-tch forreleasably connecting said member in driving relationship with thelineshaft, high speed `drive means whereby said rst member may drive thespooling drum, said means including a secondl member rotatably mountedon the drumshaft and a second clutch for releasably connecting thesecond member in driving relationship with said drumshaft, an auxiliarybrake positioned coaxially of the lineshaft, and a clutch for connectingthe brake to the lineshaft, whereby the brake may act through the lowspeed dri-ve means to resist unspooling movement of the drum upon thefirst and second clutches being disengaged,

5. In a rotary drawworks, the combi-nation of a drumshaft, axiallyspaced bearings for rotatably supporting the drumshaft, a spooling drumfixed on said drumshaft between said bearings, a lineshaft, low speeddrive means whereby the lineshait may drive the spool-ing drum,including a driven element xedrelative to the spooling drum and adriving element iixed relative to the lineshaft, a rst mem-ber rotatablymounted coaxially of thev lineshaft, a iirst fluidi operated frictionclutch forv releasablyco'nnecting said member in driving relationshipwith the lineshaft, high speed drive means whereby said rst. member maydrive the spooling drum, said means including a second member rotatablymounted on an overhanging end of the drumshaft outside said bearings anda second flu-idy operated friction clutch for releasably connectingv thesecond member in driving relationship with said' drumshaft, an auxiliarybrake positioned coaxially of the lineshaft, and a releasableover-running clutch for connecting the brake to the lineshaft, wherebythe brake may act through the low speed drive means to resist unspoolingmovement of the drum upon the rst and second friction clutches beingdisengaged.

6. In a rotary drawworks, the combination of a drumshaft, a spoolingdrum on said drumshaft, a lineshaft, low speed drive means whereby thelineshaft may drive the spooling drum, including a driven element fixedrelative to the spooling drum and a driving element xed relative to thelineshaft, a first member rotatably mounted coaxially of the lineshait,a rst uid operated friction clutch for releasably connectlineshaft maydrive the spooling drum, includ-* ing said member in drivingrelationship with the lineshaft, high speed drive means whereby said rstmember may drive the spooling drum, said means including a second memberrotatably mounted on the drumshaft and a second fluid operated frictionclutch for releasably connecting the second member in drivingrelationship with said drumshaft, means whereby the rst member may bedriven from a source of power, means whereby the second member may drivea power take-off element, an auxiliary brake positioned coaxially of thelineshaft, and a releasable over-running clutch for connecting the braketo the lineshaft, whereby the brake may act through the low speed drivemeans to resist unspooling movement or" the drum upon the iirst andsecond friction clutches being disengaged.

7. In a rotary drawworks, the combination of a drumshaft, axially spacedbearings for rotatably supporting the drumshaft, a spooling drum iixedon said drumshaft between said bearings, a lineshaft, low speed drivemeans whereby the lineshaft may drive the spooling drum, including alarge driven sprocket fixed relative to the spooling drum and a smalldriving sprocket iixed relative to the lineshaft and connected by achain, a first member rotatably mounted coaxially of the lineshaft, airst iiuid operated friction clutch for releasably connecting saidmember in driving relationship with the line-- shaft, high speed drivemeans whereby said first ,3

member may drive the spooling drum, said means including a second memberrotatably mounted on an overhanging end of the drumshait outside saidbearings and a second iiuid operated friction clutch for releasablyconnecting the second e member in driving relationship with saiddrumshaft, means whereby the first member may be driven from a source ofpower, means whereby the second member may drive a power take-offelement, an auxiliary brake positioned coaxially of the lineshaft, and areleasable over-running clutch for connecting the brake to thelineshaft, whereby the brake may act through the low speed drive meansto resist unspooling movement of the drum upon the iirst and secondfriction clutches being disengaged.

8. In a rotary drawworks, the combination of a. drumshaft, axiallyspaced bearings for rotatably supporting the drumshaft, a spooling drumxed on said drumshaft between said bearings, a lineshaft, low speeddrive means whereby the lineshait may drive the spooling drum, includinga large driven sprocket fixed relative to the spooling drum and a smalldriving element fixed relative to the lineshaft and connected by achain, a first dual sprocket member rotatably mounted coaxially of thelineshaft, a rst clutch for releasably connecting said member in drivingrelationship with the lineshaft, high speed drive means whereby said rstmember may drive the spooling drum, said means including a second dualsprocket member rotatably mounted on an overhanging end of the drumshaftoutside said bearings and a second clutch for releasably connecting thesecond member in driving relationship with said drumshaft, a chainconnecting one of the sprockets on each member, means whereby the othersprocket on the first member may be driven from a source of power, meanswhereby the other sprocket on the second member may drive a powertake-off element, an auxiliary brake positioned coaxially of thelineshaft, and a clutch for connecting the brake to the lineshaft,whereby the brake may act through the low speed drive means to resistunspooling movement of the drum upon the first and second frictionclutches being disengaged.

9. In a rotary drawworks, the combination of a drumshaft, a spoolingdrum fixed on the drumshaft, a lineshaft, low speed drive means wherebythe lineshaft may drive the spooling drum including a large drivensprocket xed relative to the spooling drum and a small driving sprocketfixed relative to the lineshaft and connected by a chain, a rst memberrotatably mounted coaxially of the lineshaft, a first clutch forreleasably connecting said member in driving relationship with thelineshaft, high speed drive means whereby said first member may drivethe spooling drum, said means including a second member rotatablymounted on the drum shaft and a second clutch for releasably connectingthe second member in driving relationship with said lineshaft, meanswhereby the first member may be driven from a source of power, meanswhereby the second member may drive a power take-off element, anauxiliary brake positioned coaxially of the lineshaft, and a releasableoverrunning clutch for connecting the brake to the lineshaft whereby thebrake may act through the low speed drive means to resist unspoolingmovement of the drum upon the first and second clutches beingdisengaged.

JOHN B. PICARD.

References Cited ,in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSNumber Name Date 1,010,935 Meek Dec. 5, 1911 2,157,211 McDonald May 9,1939 2,304,350 Gillett Dec. 8, 1942 2,339,449 Ashton Jan. 18, 19442,344,681 Deschner Mar. 21, 1944 2,354,235 Walton July 25, 19442,536,483 Young Jan. 2, 1951 2,563,089 Wilson Aug. '7, 1951

